The next phase of Table Tennis England’s Governance Review is to implement the Independent Review Panel’s (IRP) recommendations.

The Board has identified the priorities from the Phase 1 recommendations, including the proposed creation of a new Membership Advisory Group (MAG) to act as the main interface between the Board and our members.

A Board sub-committee, which includes members of the table tennis family who were part of the IRP, has been set up to steer this process. It will meet for the first time on August 8.

It is intended that the sub-Committee will identify the method for constructing MAG and outlining the terms of reference. MAG would then be established in the first quarter and hold its inaugural meeting in the second quarter of 2019.

A second priority identified by IRP and supported by the Board was to examine the company membership structure and voting. A separate Board sub-committee, also including independent members who were part of the IRP, has been set up to progress at this.

We will continue to keep members informed as the next phase comes together.

Background

The Governance Review was launched last year to deliver on a commitment made ahead of an Extraordinary General Meeting, at which Company Members voted to approve governance reforms necessary for the sport to comply with the Government’s new Code for Sports Governance.

The IRP panel was created as a result of this commitment and the wider membership were invited to input into the consultation. The IRP’s report is a result of this process.

The aim of the Review was to undertake a wide-ranging and thorough review into the governance and structures of Table Tennis England to achieve a modernised, professional, transparent organisation that balances the need for democracy and a volunteer workforce at its heart.

The IRP held meetings with National Council and the Regional Forum, as well as further discussions either face-to-face or over the phone with a number of individuals. There were also more than 500 responses to an online questionnaire.